FLASH: Obama's Attorney General Eric Holder held in contempt of Congress

by Chad D. Baus

President Barack Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder, has been found to be in contempt of Congress as a result of his refusal to comply with a subpoena requiring him to release documents related to the BATFE's gun-walking operation known as Fast & Furious.

Seventeen Democrats joined the Republican majority in voting for the resolution to find Holder in contempt of Congress.

The Justice Department operation, which involved thousands of guns being allowed to be purchased by known affiliates of Mexican drug cartels and "walked" across the border with no ability to track them and with no coordination with the Mexican government. Several hundred people in Mexico, and at least one American border patrol agent, have reportedly been killed with Fast & Furious weapons.

This is the first time a sitting member of a president's cabinet has been held in contempt of Congress.

According to Wikipedia, following a contempt citation, the presiding officer of the chamber is instructed to refer the matter to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; according to the law it is the "duty" of the U.S. Attorney to refer the matter to a grand jury for action. However, the U.S. attorney for D.C. is an employee of none other than the U.S. Attorney General, and whether or not the rule of law will be followed remains to be seen.

The criminal offense of "contempt of Congress" sets the penalty at not less than one month nor more than twelve months in jail and a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.

Additional Information:
Holder contempt citation -- just remember that people died because of 'Fast and Furious'